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History10022009 PDF
History10022009 PDF
Antecedents
The Institute has an illustrious history and a glorious past. The Thomason
College, the oldest engineering college in India, owes its birth to the waters of
Mother Ganges. Without the River Ganges there would have been no canal of that
name, and, without the canal, no college at Roorkee. The Ganges Canal soon
reached maturity, but its offspring, the Thomason College, planned by men of
wisdom and foresight, grew steadily from the smallest beginnings till it attained the
proud position which it now holds as one of the leading educational institutions of the
East with great traditions and a reputation second to none.
As early as the year 1845, Lieutenant Baird Smith of the Bengal Engineers,
then Superintendent of the Eastern Jumna Canal, began training young Indians at
Saharanpur in Civil Engineering for the grade of Sub-Assistant Executive Engineer
and in 1846 twenty candidates were admitted to this class. In 1847, after the First
Punjab War, Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General, determined on the vigorous
prosecution of the Ganges Canal scheme. This undertaking, especially in the first few
miles of its course, was beset with great engineering difficulties. Evidently it would
tax to the utmost the skill industry and resources of the people and country. The
science that was necessary to construct a work of this magnitude would also be kept
constantly in exercise for its maintenance, improvement and extension. Immediate
measures were necessary to provide a constant supply of well-trained and
The proposal obtained the immediate and cordial support of the Governor-
General in India. On October 19, 1847, Lieutenant R. Maclagan of the Engineers was
appointed Principal of the College and on November 25 of the same year a
prospectus was issued, the establishment being fixed at a Principal, a Headmaster,
an Architectural Drawing Master and two Indian Teachers. The prospectus provided
for three departments in the College. The First Department was for candidates for
appointment as Sub-Assistant Civil Engineers. It was laid down that they must be
under 22 years of age, must be able to read and write English easily and must have
knowledge of Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry,
Conic Sections, and Mechanics. The number to be admitted was 8 annually. The
Second Department was for European Non-commissioned Officers and soldiers who
had to pass an elementary test in Reading, Writing, simple Drawing and very easy
Mathematics before admission. The number of admissions was limited to 10
annually. These soldiers were trained to become Overseers in the Public Works
Department. The Third Department was for young Indians desiring free instruction in
Surveying, Leveling and Drawing. These men were required to have some knowledge
of Arithmetic and to be able to read and write Urdu. Admissions were limited to 16
annually and qualified men were given certificates on leaving the College. Annual
examinations were held for all classes. It will be noticed that the lengths of the
courses were not specified, but it is believed that the Second Department course
lasted 6 months only.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
5th. Persons admitted into this Department must be under the age
of 22. They must have previously acquired an ability to read and write
with ease and accuracy in the English language, and a knowledge of
Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry,
Conic Sections and Mechanics.
J. THORNTON,
Secy., to the Govt., N. W. P.
*Engineer Classes
**Upper Subordinate Classes
***Lower Subordinate Classes.
The year 1848 was an important one in the history of Roorkee. In this year, 12
years after the first line of the Ganges Canal levels had been taken, Lord Hardinge,
then Governor-General recommended the commencement of work on the Canal
scheme with the utmost vigour and the Ganges Canal may be said to originate from
that time. The Canal Foundry Workshops were also established at Roorkee by Major
Allen of the Bengal Army in that year and students of the Roorkee College attended
there for practical instruction. In 1850, the number of Military students admitted to
the College was increased to 15 annually and on April 7, 1851, there were 50
students of all classes. Forty-two men had already passed out.
The year 1851 really marks the birth of the Thomason College. At the end of the
Second Punjab War, the Roorkee College, with its then existing establishment and
accommodation, was barely adequate for the instruction of the students and was
utterly inadequate to meet the exigencies of the occasion. Mr. Thomason at once
grasped the situation and prepared a scheme for enlargement.
1st - The admission of officers, both of the Royal and East India Company's armies,
to study at Roorkee in a class called the Senior Department.
2nd - The superintendence and improvement of the village schools around Roorkee
as feeders for the Third or Indian Department of the College.
6th - The maintenance of metal and stone printing presses with a book-binder's
establishment and all the necessaries for the publication of scientific works
with appropriate drawings and illustrations.
7th - The enlargement of the College buildings and establishment to meet all these
purposes.
8th - The doubling of the number of students in the Second and Third
Departments.
The original cost of the College buildings, etc., was estimated at Rs.1,56,217 and
the annual charge for the College at Rs.83,898.
A valuable record of the origin of the Thomason College and the aims and objects
for which it was established, is to be found in a pamphlet, dated October 3, 1851,
drawn up by Mr. Thomason, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces. The
exact date of the commencement of the construction of the new College—afterwards
called the Thomason College—is unknown, but it seems that the work must have
been started in 1852. The officer who designed the main building was Lieutenant
Price of the 1st Fusiliers, then employed on the Ganges Canal, who later became
Chief Engineer, Hyderabad. There is reason to believe that Lieutenant Price also
supervised the work of construction, vide Frontispiece, Volume III, of Colonel
Cautley's Report on the Ganges Canal. It is very remarkable that a junior Infantry
Officer should have been capable of designing and building so large an edifice as the
Thomason College and producing an example of Renaissance architecture which
seems to be not unpleasing even to the eyes of professional architects, who have
visited Roorkee in modern times. The officers responsible for the selection and
acquisition of the site for the Thomason College and its estate showed wonderful
judgment and foresight. They acquired in time 365 acres of land, including the high
ground on which the College itself was built facing the north, in which direction the
main range of the Himalayas towers in snowy grandeur above the nearer hills and
lesser ranges. The land was fertile, the water-supply ample and the locality healthy,
while, within a mile or two, some of the greatest engineering works in the world
were in the process of construction. It is recorded that the construction of the
College was nearing completion in 1854 and that all the original buildings, including
the main building, were completed in January, 1856, so that a period of about four
years was required for the work. The front of the main building, viewed from the
north, was as it is at the present day, except that there was no clock; but there were
no rooms—only covered passages—and the rear of the quadrangle was open except
for a small model-room and museum block in the centre. As time went on the
College was enlarged. By 1873, the Library and Convocation Hall had been built and
by 1896, the rear of the College had been closed by providing rooms for Science
Departments, while still later a second storey was added over the south-east corner
to accommodate the Photo School of the College Press. Nevertheless, it can be said
that the Thomason College was completed, as then required, in January, 1856,
Until the year 1854, the institution at Roorkee continued to be known as the
"Roorkee College," but in that year the Honourable Court of Directors instituted a
scholarship to be called the Thomason Scholarship, in memory of Mr. Thomason and
the Governor-General ordered the Roorkee College to be called the "Thomason
College of Civil Engineering" in the following notification :
No.6
OUR GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA
IN COUNCIL
PUBLIC DEPARTMENT
London February 8, 1854
We are etc.
(Sd.) RUSSELL ELLICE
J. OLIPHANT
and other Directors
In 1856, when the Thomason College had been built, a Committee was
appointed by the Lieut.-Governor to inquire into the past working and present
Non-Military Class.—No alterations were proposed for this Class, but Indian
students were now admitted.
6. A Professor of Surveying was added to the staff, who was made Curator of
the Instrument Depot; also a Professor of Practical Chemistry and Photography.
1O. A soldiers' garden and the grounds generally were laid out and improved.
12. The young officers and non-commissioned officers and privates of the
Sappers, stationed at Roorkee, were required to attend the College as far as their
duties would admit.
Colonel R. Maclagan, R.E., the first Principal, retired in 1860, being succeeded by
Captain E. C. S. Williams, R.E., who, in turn, was succeeded by Major J. G. Medley,
R.E., in 1863. The latter held the post of Principal till 1870. For a few years there
were no great changes, but the College was expanding steadily. In 1863, when the
number of students had risen to 88, a Professor of Experimental Science was
appointed. In 1864, the College was affiliated (nominally) to the Calcutta University.
The course for the senior and First Departments was extended to three years, unless
The history of the College, since its establishment, may be said lo be divided into
four periods and the year 1875 marked the close of the first period. The chief
characteristic of this period was the pecuniary aid given by the Government to most
students in the way of stipends. It was an era of pioneering in an untrodden country
and Government had to bear the cost of the journey. But it was also a period of
great industrial development and of great activity in the construction of railways,
canals, roads and other aids to industrial enterprise. The public mind was opening to
the benefits of public works and to the advantages of Engineering as a profession.
The result was that in 1875 Government found it possible to restrict the financial
help previously given to students and to limit the number of guaranteed
appointments to the Public Service. The years 1875 to 1896 may be termed the
second period. During these years, though the pecuniary aid given to student was to
a large extent done away with, most of them paid practically nothing for their
education. The training, however, was confined chiefly to Civil Engineering,
Surveying and allied branches and technical or industrial classes did not exist. The
years 1896 to 1920 may be called the third period when all students, except soldiers,
paid fees, and the College was developed greatly as a Technical Institute, much
stress being laid on Industries and Science. From the year 1920 to modern times
may be considered as the fourth period when the College reverted once more to the
specialized training of Civil Engineers and subordinates, relinquishing Industrial and
The Royal Indian Engineering College at Cooper's Hill in England, which opened
in 1871 and closed in 1906, had an unfortunate effect on the entry of students to
the Engineer Class at Roorkee after 1876. While 55 admissions to this class were
made in 1876, only twenty were made in 1878, but the effect of Cooper’s Hill
College decreased later when more Indians appeared as candidates for entry. An
entrance examination fee of Rs.20 was required for the first time in 1876. In 1878,
Major A. M. Brandreth, R.E., succeeded Colonel A.M. Lang, R.E., as Principal. In
1881 the Guides Corps Class was thrown open to the whole Indian Army and was
called the Native Military Survey Class. In this year also, for the first time, marks
were allotted for physical fitness and for proficiency in athletics. From the
commencement of 1882 the entire financial responsibility for the College was thrown
on the Local Government. Under orders of the Secretary of State no Europeans,
except Royal Engineers, were to be appointed as engineers in India, except under
his sanction, it being understood that Cooper's Hill College was to be the source
whence they were to be recruited. Indians of pure Asiatic descent were to be given
all vacancies in the Public Works Department, irrespective of the position they held
after the final examination, European competitors only receiving, under special
sanction, appointments for which Indians were unable to qualify. This provision was
altered in 1886 when guaranteed appointments were thrown open to all Statutory
Natives of India. The Professorship of Experimental Science was abolished and
considerable reductions made in the staff, due probably to an anticipated permanent
reduction in the number of Engineer Class students.
In 1896 commenced the third period in the history of the College. The
Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces visited the institution. The College
was reorganized and from this time forward all students, except soldiers, paid fees
for their education. This further extension of the commercial principle, far from
injuriously affecting the College, added to its efficiency and activity. The number of
applicant for admission exceeded the number who could be accommodated and it
became necessary to insist on a process of selection, whereby only those who stood
highest in the competitive examination could be admitted. From this time forth the
College did not alone concern itself with the education of engineers and their
subordinates: its scope was extended so as to include Industrial and Technical
education generally, the aim being to develop the College into a Technical Institute
for the Provinces, which should control, stimulate and inspire technical teaching of
all kinds.
Firstly.—The transfer of the administration of the College from the control of the
Public Works Department to that of the Education Department—thus emphasizing
the fact that the College was not only intended as a nursery for the Public Works
Department, but also to supply the need for Technical education for the Provinces in
general.
The next few years showed the progress of the College as a Technical Institute.
The Technical and Scientific side was greatly strengthened, while the Civil
Engineering side seems to have remained as before. In 1897 two Professors, two
Instructors and a Demonstrator were appointed to the Staff, viz., a Professor of
Mathematics (Mr. Tipple) and of Experimental Science (Mr. Sedgwick), an Instructor
in Applied Science, a Technical Instructor and a Laboratory Demonstrator. A
Chemical Laboratory was started. New Technical Workshops were sanctioned. In
1899 an Electrical Engineering Class was started. In 1901 the new Technical
Workshops, equipped with the latest machinery run by electricity, were built at a
cost of Rs.33,000. The Applied Science Laboratories were fully equipped. A Physical
and Mechanical Laboratory was provided. The College Press was enlarged and
remodelled and an electrically operated water-supply system for the whole College
was installed. Before the completion of all these alterations and additions which were
necessary to carry out the details of the reorganization scheme of 1896, Colonel J.
Clibborn, C.I.E., I.S.C., went on furlough pending retirement in 1901 and his duties
as Principal were taken over by Captain E.H. deV. Atkinson, R.E., who remained
Principal from 1902 to 1915 when he left the College (as Lieut.-Colonel Atkinson,
C.I.E., R.E.) to proceed on active service during the Great War. A Council was
created in 1901 to assist the Principal in regulating the courses of study and other
matters which were recognized as outside the province of the Committee of
Management. A sub-committee of this Council, later called the Board of Studies,
performed these duties, though the Council itself has ceased to exist. The
enlargement of the Thomason College between the years 1896 and 1900 may be
Captain Atkinson, R.E., in 1902, set about the reorganization of the interior
economy of the College. Fortnightly examinations—a trial both to the staff and
students—were abolished. The session was for the first time divided into three terms
and the examinations grouped together at the end of each term. A new time-table
was introduced and the allotment of marks re-arranged. The length of each
attendance, which had so far been invariably 3 hours, was changed to 1½ hours,
except for certain subjects such as Laboratory work and Drawing. The arrangement
of the staff was altered. Each branch of study was placed under a Professor with
assistants, who were responsible for the teaching of that branch throughout the
College. A Dairy was started in connexion with the College stores, which had been
founded by the staff and students. In July the College was visited by the Lieutenant-
Governor, Sir Digges LaTouche, and as a result of his inspection, a number of much-
needed buildings were sanctioned. In the early part of 1903, most of these buildings
were completed. They included a building for the stores and dairy, a bazar, a central
power-house, improvements to the quarters, new latrines, the completion of the
system of drainage and a house for the Applied Science Instructor. A grant of
Rs.24,000 was sanctioned, to be spread over four years, for bringing the supply of
surveying instruments in the College up to date. In 1904, further improvements in
interior economy were made. The syllabuses for all the classes were revised and
brought up to date. The list of text-books in use was revised and recent and more
approved methods of instruction in Geometry and Mechanics introduced. A start was
made to equip a Mechanical Laboratory for the practical teaching of Mechanics.
Instead of specified text-books for the Entrance examination of the Civil Engineer
Class, a brief Syllabus was prepared for each subject and published in the Circulars.
A Survey Class for Indian Officers of the Imperial Service Troops was held for the
first time. The Mechanical Apprentice Class, which was started in 1896, was placed
on a more practical basis, an entrance examination introduced, and the course
altered to three years at College and two years as Indentured Apprentices in outside
workshops. The rules for the Draftsman and Computer Class were altered and an
examination in Drawing was held for men who had pasted the Lower Subordinate
Class Entrance examination but failed to obtain vacancies. Mr. P. P. Philips, Ph.D.,
joined the staff as Instructor in Chemistry in 1904. The College Press was
reorganized, the Typographic branch being reduced and the Lithographic branch
developed. The terms of admission to the Industrial Apprentice Class were altered,
the payment of scholarships in special cases being substituted for stipends. The
College had indeed entered upon an era of strenuous reorganization and expansion.
When the Great War commenced, the College was in vacation, but in October,
1914, when it re-opened, great enthusiasm and patriotism were shown by the staff
and students who subscribed Rs.2,500 towards the Imperial Relief Fund and followed
daily the progress of the war on maps hung in the College corridor. Mr. B. M.
Mukerjee, Professor of Physics, volunteered in 1914 for service in the X-Ray section
of the General Hospital and left for active service in the Western theatre, not
returning until 1920. Captain E. W. C. Sandes, R.E., proceeded on active service to
Mesopotamia in March, 1915. The Principal, Lieut.-Col. E. H. deV. Atkinson, C.I.E.,
R.E., proceeded to England in July, 1915, where he was appointed C.R.E. of a
Division and rose to be Chief Engineer of the 4th Army on the Western Front before
the end of the war with the rank of Major-General and many decorations. Mr. B. F.
Tipple officiated as Principal till October, 1916, in his absence. Mr. H. P. Jordan,
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Mr. A. M. McLean, Instructor in the same
Department, obtained commissions in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers and left
for military service in May, 1915 and August, 1915, respectively, Mr. Jordan
returning, invalided, in October, 1915, and Major McLean, M.C., in 1920 after service
in Mesopotamia and staff employment in India. Mr. E.S. Griffith, an Instructor,
obtained an I. A. R. O. commission in May, 1917 and Mr. G. Lacey, who joined the
College as Professor of Civil Engineering in November, 1915, also obtained a
commission in 1917 and both left the College. Many European students, who had
passed out of the College, received commissions, and the names of those students
killed in the War appear on a brass memorial tablet in the College. It is evident that
the war took a heavy toll of the College Staff and instruction became increasingly
difficult. Funds were also scarce, so that any large expansions had to be postponed
till better times. Nevertheless the instructional work continued. The Public Works
Department assisted the College by recommending the appointment as Principal of
Mr. W. Gunnell Wood, C.S.I., late Chief Engineer, Buildings and Roads Branch,
United Provinces, and this appointment was made in October, 1916. Sir James
Meston, Lieut.-Governor, visited the College in February, 1918.
His Excellency the Governor of the United Provinces Sir Harcourt Butler, K.C.S.I.,
C.I.E., presided at the College Convocation and Prize-giving in July, 1922. In this
year a Committee was appointed by Government to inspect the College Press with a
view to possible economies through the transfer of the control of the Press to the
Superintendent of the Government Press, Allahabad (then Mr. Abel). Though the
Committee recommended the transfer, the Advisory Council was averse to it and
Government accepted the opinion of the Council. The two new bungalows for
professors were completed in 1922 and funds were given for the transfer of the
Textile (Cotton) Machinery to Cawnpore and the conversion of the Textile Building
into an Annexe for the Overseer Class instruction. The benefits of the sanctioned
Reorganization Scheme were felt in this year. All members of the instructional staff
were allowed rent-free quarters from October, 1922 and salaries were improved. Mr.
H. P. Jordan, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, then on leave, was transferred to
the Poona Engineering College in October, 1922. Mr. Dhawan, Mr. Raja Ram, Mr. B.
D. Puri, and Mr. Shiv Narayan joined the Staff as Professors of Civil Engineering
(Railways), Civil Engineering (Sanitary), Mathematics and Electrical Engineering and
Physics respectively; also Mr. Chuckerbutty as Assistant Professor of Surveying and
Drawing. But Mr. Shiv Narayan and Mr. Chuckerbutty were transferred elsewhere
after one session and the posts remained vacant and Mr. Dhawan also left in
October, 1923.
His Excellency Sir William Marris, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., who succeeded Sir Harcourt
Butler as Governor, presided at the Convocation in July, 1923. This occasion was
unique in that the Governor of the Punjab, His Excellency Sir Edward Maclagan,
K.C.S.I., C.I.E., was also present and distributed the prizes at the request of Sir
William Marris. Sir Edward Maclagan had been invited in view of his connexion with
the College through his father, Colonel E. Maclagan, R.E., who was the first Principal.
Major-General Sir Edwin Atkinson, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., C.I.E., Master General of
Supply and a former Principal of the College, presided at the Convocation in July,
1924. During this year the grant for repairs was increased and much necessary and
overdue work was carried out, including re-roofing the College bazar buildings and
the completion of new out-bull dings and the re-roofing of servants quarters. Dr. P.
I. Phillips, on return from leave, officiated as Principal from October, 1923, till the
return from leave of Major E. W. C. Sandes in October, 1924. A Special Committee
was assembled by Government at Roorkee in December, 1924, to investigate certain
matters connected with the syllabuses courses of study and staff of the College
arising out of the introduction of the Reorganization Scheme of 1919. A very
comprehensive report was submitted by this committee in 1925, which was
subsequently dealt with, item by item, by the Advisory Council, whose
recommendations caused Government to sanction several useful alterations and
innovations in the College courses. Mr. A.C. Verrieres, C.I.E., Chief Engineer,
Buildings and Roads Branch, Public Works Department, United Provinces, an old
student of the College, presided at the Convocation in July, 1925, this being the first
instance of a past student performing this duty. An extension of the Indian Engineer
Class Club was put in hand and also several internal alterations in the College itself
and in hostels, and re-roofing of certain bungalows with jack-arches. A very fine
steel model of a plate-girder bridge span, on a large scale, was presented to the
College by Messrs. Burn & Co.. Howrah, and installed in one of the College model-
rooms which have been developed into useful instructional departments. Mr. R. A.
Bradshaw-Smith, I.S.E., joined the Staff as Professor of Civil Engineering
(Irrigation), in February, 1925, Mr. L. E. Dawson having acted temporarily since Mr.
W. L. Stampe vacated the post in October, 1924.
The President at the College Convocation in July, 1926, was His Excellency Sir
Malcolm Hailey, K.C.S.I., C.I.E., Governor of the Punjab. He was invited to preside
because the Punjab had, of late years, been so largely represented in the College.
Indeed, the Punjab candidates for the Civil Engineer Class had become as numerous
as those from the United Provinces, the Punjab paying the expenses of the training
of every such candidate who gained admission, though admissions were limited.
The Board of Studies, in 1926, formulated proposals for the improvement of the
Overseer Class course and instruction. A grant was given by Government for the
purchase of additional plant for the College Workshops, which lacked modern
generating machinery. Two vestibules, one class-room and three offices were re-
roofed in the main College building and also certain servants' quarters and small out-
houses. Another lecturer's bungalow was re-roofed with jack-arches.
Session 1927-28.—A great event in the Session 1927-28 was the visit of His
Excellency the Viceroy, Baron Irwin of Kirby Underdale, G.M.S.I., G.M.I.E., to the
Thomason College on April 11, 1928. His Excellency and Staff detrained in the early
morning, motored round the College estate and then visited the Workshops and
inspected the College and later inspected also the College Press before departing by
motor for Dehra Dun. His Excellency inspected a guard of Honour of the College
students and was photographed with the staff, students and visitors. He expressed
himself much gratified with all he saw and presented a photograph to the Principal.
The honour of this visit was greatly appreciated by the College as a whole, and
particularly since no Viceroy had visited the institution since Lord Curzon came in
1905. His Excellency, the Viceroy was pleased to enter the following remarks in the
College Visitors Book:
Dr. P. P. Phillips, Ph.D., F.I.C., I.E.S., Principal was superannuated with effect
from March 22, 1932, after serving the Thomason College for 28 years and Mr. Raja
Ram, Professor of Civil Engineering, succeeded him as officiating Principal from that
date.
Mr. Gerald Lacey, I.S.E., Professor of Civil Engineering, proceeded on leave with
effect from April 21, 1932 and reverted to the Irrigation Branch, United Provinces,
from October 17, 1932 and Mr. M. L. Garga, Assistant Research Officer, Irrigation
Branch, officiated as Professor of Civil Engineering up to July 15, 1932 in his place.
The departments in the Civil Engineering Course were reduced from 5 to 3. The
Department of Applied Science was abolished, Physics being added the Department
of Pure and Applied Mathematics and Chemistry, Geology and Mineralogy to the
Department of Civil Engineering. The Department of Survey and Drawing was
amalgamated with the Department of Civil Engineering and its professorship
reduced to an assistant professorship.
(ii) Abolition of one of the posts of Professor of Civil Engineering, thereby reducing
the number from 3 to 2.
(iii) Abolition of two posts of Instructors of the Overseer Class, reducing the number
from 5 to 2.
Rai Bahadur Debi Datta Mal, I.S.E., was appointed Professor of Civil Engineering,
joining his appointment in February, 1933, thereby relieving Mr. M. L. Garga, who
reverted to his substantive appointment in the Irrigation Branch of the P.W.D.,
United Provinces.
Raja Jwala Prasad, retired Chief Engineer, Irrigation Branch, P.W.D., U.P.,
presided at the Annual Convocation.
Session 1933-34.— The Hon'ble Sir J. P. Srivastava, Kt., M.Sc., M.L.C., Minister
for Education, United Provinces, presided at the Annual Convocation.
Sir Sita Ram, President of the Legislative Council, paid a visit to the College on
April 26, 1935.
Session 1936-37.— Major H. Williams, R.E., joined the Staff on October 8, 1936,
being the officer deputed by Army Headquarters, Simla, to be in charge of the Indian
Commissioned Officers undergoing a post-graduate course in Civil Engineering and
Professor of Civil Engineering.
Mr. Raja Ram on completion of his period of 3 years as Malarial Engineer with
the Government of India resumed his post as Professor of Civil Engineering on July
10, 1937.
Session 1937-38.— Mr. Ramesh Chandra, I.S.E., joined the staff as Professor of
Civil Engineering on October 18, 1937 and reverted to his substantive appointment
upon completion of the session.
The Hon'ble Mr. Pearey Lal Sharma, Minister for Education, United Provinces,
visited the College on December 21, 1937, and gave away the prizes at the Annual
Sports.
At the close of the session passed out the first three Indian Commissioned
Officers, who joined the College in October, 1935, for a 3 years' post-graduate
course in Civil Engineering.
Sir William Stampe, Kt, C.I.E., very kindly presented a challenge cup for Inter-
class athletic events. This was fast awarded and won by the Civil Engineering class,
3rd year.
Mr. Puran Mal, retired Assistant Engineer, Public Health Department, donated a
sufficient sum to provide annually 2 silver medals, one for the Civil Engineer class
and the other for the Overseer class. The medals to be known as the Puran Mal
silver medals for Public Health Engineering. The medals to be awarded annually to
those students who obtain the highest marks in the final examination on Sanitary
Engineering and Water Supply. The medals were first awarded at the Convocation in
July, 1938.
The Hon’ble Sri Sampurnanand, B.Sc. Minister for Education, United Provinces,
visited the College on April 11, 1939.
His Excellency Sir Harry Haig, K.C.S.I., C.I.E., I.C.S., Governor of the United
Provinces accompanied by Lady Haig visited the College on July 15, 1939 and
presided at the Annual Convocation.
The Defence Department withdrew its Indian Commissioned Officers, who were
undergoing post-graduate course in this College and along with them their officer-in
charge from the end of this session.
Rai Bahadur Mool Chand Bijawat, I.S.E,, Superintending Engineer, Public Works
Department, Irrigation Branch, joined as Professor of Civil Engineering on October
29, 1939 and took over charge of the post of Principal from Mr. B. D. Puri, Professor
of Mathematics and that of Professor of Civil Engineering from Mr. S. R. Singh,
Lecturer in Surveying on the same date.
His Excellency Sir Maurice Garnier Hallett, K.C.S.I.. C.I.E., I.C.S., Governor of
the United Provinces, visited the College on April 18, 1940.
Dr. Panna Lall, M.A., B.SC., LL.B. (Cantab), D.LITT (Agra), Bar-at-Law, C.I.E.,
I.C.S., Adviser to His Excellency the Governor, United Provinces, visited the College
on July 12, 194O.
Mr. Chatterjee, Regional Inspector visited the College in connexion with the
training of War technicians in the College Workshops.
The last batch of students nominated by the Punjab Government for studying in
the Civil Engineer class of this College completed their course this Session.
Revised new Syllabus for the Civil Engineer class was introduced from this
session.
Colonel Gordon visited the College to see what facilities this College could give
for the training of Surveyors and other P. W. Staff.
Two topmost students of the Civil Engineer class were guaranteed appointments
in the Provincial Service of Engineers with effect from the year 1942-43. These
guaranteed posts were also given to the students who passed out in July, 1941.
Session 1943-44 — The training of the 1st Technical Unit of the Civil Pioneer Force
was discontinued and the Unit was transferred to Anantapur, Madras on November
21, 1943. The training of surveyors was also discontinued in this college from April
25, 1944, and the trainees were transferred to Cuttack. The Defence Department
started their school of Military Engineering in this college.
From this session the three years course of Civil Engineer class was reduced to
two years and the intake increased to forty as a war measure. Only the students
entering in 1943 and 1944 passed through the abridged course, as in 1945 the
normal three-year course was resumed. Thus while two batches passed in 1945,
none passed in 1947.
Session 1949-50 — Dr. C.A. Hart, a Professor from the London University joined
as the first Vice Chancellor in 1949. Under the provision of the Act, the Chancellor
had already appointed Prof. N. Chakaravarti, hitherto Principal of the College, as Pro
Vice Chancellor of the University. The Syndicate held its first meeting on 25th
November, 1949. The Charter was presented to ‘The University of Roorkee’ on
November 25, 1949. At the same occasion the first Convocation of the University
Charter of Incorporation
The Roorkee University
Govt. Seal
Roorkee: H. P. MODY
November 25, 1949. Governor of the United Provinces.
The College laid the foundation of modern engineering education and the use of
civil engineering practices in the infrastructure development of the country. Major
civil works in the country like dams, canals, roads, highways, railways, bridges etc.,
are the outcome of the engineering education imparted in this College.
Session 1956-57 — Degree course in Architecture was started in 1956, and that
in Tele-communication Engineering a year later. Two post-graduate courses in Civil
Engineering had already been started in 1953. Additional postgraduate courses were
started in the next three years in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
The duration of the degree courses was raised from 3 to 4 years in 1960. In
1963 the duration of the postgraduate courses was increased from one to two years,
and the submission of a thesis was made an integral part of the M.E. course.
In 1964, due to shortage of space in the Campus the Diploma classes for
training of Overseers were discontinued. Consequently, no fresh admissions were
made to this class from 1964 onwards, and the last Overseer class passed out in
1966.
Vice President Dr. Zakir Hussain, was the Chief Guest at the convocation held
on 26th December 1966 and was honoured with the degree of D.Sc. (honoris causa).
Session 1967-68 — Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the guest of honour at
the convocation held on 18th November 1967 under the presidentship of the
Chancellor, Dr. B. Gopala Reddy.
Session 1976-77 — Dr. Jagdish Narain took over the charge of Vice
Chancellor in October 1977.
Dr. Bharat Singh took over the charge of Acting Vice Chancellor in 1982 and
was appointed as Vice Chancellor in 1983. Audio Visual Research Centre (AVRC) was
established in the Roorkee University campus by the University Grants Commission
in 1984 for research in and production of educational material capable of wide
transmission through audio-visual media.
Dr. N.C. Mathur took over the charge of Vice Chancellor on 11th May 1987.
Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (STEP) Roorkee was established by the
Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and was registered as a society
in 1987, with the Vice Chancellor as its Chairman, to encourage entrepreneurial
activities for the establishment of new ventures and diversification of products in the
small industrial units in an around Roorkee.
Dr. D.V. Singh took over the charge of Vice Chancellor on 10th March 2000.
Ever since its inception, the University has grown phenomenally in size and
reach. On September 21, 2001, the University was renamed as an Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament called the
Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2002, and is now known as the Indian
Institute of Technology Roorkee. The most conspicuous feature of the Institute is
that the academic directions are all the time conceived to be relevant to the Indian
society and its needs and prepare the students to meet global challenges.
Dr. D.V. Singh took over the charge of the First Director of the Indian
Institute of Technology Roorkee on he world hold 21st September 2001, with the
proviso that he would hold office for a three months, or till such time the new
Director is appointed, whichever is earlier.
(Legislative Department)
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 21st day of
September, 2001.
(b) after clause (k), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-
Insertion 5. After section 5 of the principal Act, the following section shall be
of new inserted, namely :-
section 5A
K.N. CHATURVEDI
Addl. Secy. To the Govt. of India
Dr. Prem Vrat took over the charge of the second Director from Dr. D.V.
Singh on 16th December 2001.
The construction of the NC Nigam Guest House was completed in the year
2006.
Dr. S.C. Saxena took over the charge as Director from Dr. Prem Vrat on 1st
June 2006.